Listen, ginger hair dye is having a moment, and we are here for it. In fact, ginger hair is always having a moment, in our opinion. Anyone blessed with naturally gorgeous ginger locks won't necessarily have to snap on a pair of gloves and be on the hunt for the best hair dyes. But for those of us wanting to get the look, we've found the best ginger hair dye so that you can bring out your inner Stacey Dooley.
Salon appointments can be expensive. Once you see those dreaded roots coming through, it's so easy to throw money at your nearest salon in a panic for the next available appointment. Using a hair dye from home means that you can cut back on costs, with the dyes in our list starting from just £6.89. Affordable or what?
While ginger does happen to be a shade of red, you might be looking for something a bit more natural than bright red hair dye. But if you think that achieving a subtle and natural-looking dye job from the comfort of your own home is next to impossible, then think again. We say if Stacey can do it, so can we.
Best ginger hair dyes at a glance:
Best celebrity favourite ginger hair dye: Clairol Nice'n Easy Crème, Permanent Hair Dye, 8WR Golden Auburn - Buy on Amazon
Best highly rated ginger hair dye: Clairol Nice'n Easy Crème, Permanent Hair Dye, 6R Light Auburn - Buy on Amazon
Best highly reviewed ginger hair dye: Adore Shining, Semi Permanent Hair Colour, 30 Ginger - Buy on Amazon
Between a shade of auburn and blonde, Stacey's exact dye is named 8WR Golden Auburn. So, if you're not quite after auburn hair dye and you're leaning more toward the ginger side, we've found all the right dyes for you. Here are the best ginger hair dyes on the high street so you can get those fabulous fiery locks.
SHOP: The best ginger hair dyes
Best celebrity favourite ginger hair dye
AmazonDelivering a natural-looking colour with a blend of three different tones to deliver highlights and lowlights, the Clairol Nice'n Easy Crème, Permanent Hair Dye in 8WR Golden Auburn is Stacey Dooley's go-to shade. Given how affordable it is, we're snapping it up immediately so we can get in on the ginger hair trend.
Customer review: "I've never used this brand before so was nervous using it! However! It was amazing! The cream doesn't change colour like most hair dyes and dye your skin, really easy and quick to put only. Rinsed off after 25 mins as it states to. My hair feels gorgeous and soft. The conditioner that comes with it smells divine! And the colour is very beautiful and natural looking, I will definitely be using this from now on! Very happy 😊"
Pros
- Permanent colour that lasts up to 28 washes
- Blend of three tones to deliver natural highlights
- Oil-infused dye is gentle on the scalp
Cons
- Not as vibrant as some expected
Best highly rated ginger hair dye
AmazonAnother shade in the Clairol Nice'n Easy Crème Permanent Hair Dye range is 6R Light Auburn. As one of the highest-rated box dyes on Amazon currently, this ginger dye definitely deserved a spot on our shortlist. Reviewers say since they've dyed their hair this colour, they've been mistaken for a natural redhead and received so many compliments on this hair colour.
Customer review: "I had my hair bleached copper before using this colour so please bear that in mind! Because the colour faded and I couldn't afford to get it done by the hairdresser again, I thought I'd give this a try just to give myself a refresh. I was surprised at how natural it looked and didn't look much different from the shade I had at the hairdressers! It's such a natural-looking shade and I've had so many compliments! It'll look different depending on your base but if you're already copper and looking for a refresh without it going too dark then this is the shade for you! I wouldn't use any other shade."
Pros
- Permanent colour that lasts up to 28 washes
- Blend of three tones to deliver natural highlights
- Oil-infused dye is gentle on the scalp
Cons
- Does have some brown undertones
Best highly reviewed ginger hair dye
AmazonThe Adore Shining Semi Permanent Hair Colour in 30 Ginger is perfect for a refresh in between dyes or for adding a ginger tone to your hair. A true ginger shade, it combines shades of golden copper for the perfect vibrant finish. It contains aloe vera to nourish the hair and soothe the scalp and is free from ammonia, alcohol and peroxide.
Customer review: "Used over Nice' N Easy Golden Auburn and in between colouring as a refresher. Left my hair a beautiful ginger colour and with lots of shine. Would recommend."
Pros
- Semi-permanent colour
- Contains aloe vera to nourish hair
- Free from ammonia, alcohol and peroxide
Cons
- May not cover grey hairs
Best nourishing ginger hair dye
Superdrugwww.superdrug.com
We love this innovative hair dye from the Garnier Good Permanent Hair Dye range in the shade Tumeric Copper 7.43. With a similar consistency to the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Masks, this hair dye comes in a pot. Containing nourishing natural ingredients like shea butter, this vegan formula leaves hair feeling healthy, glossy and vibrant.
Customer review: "Garnier Turmeric Copper is a vibrant permanent dye. The colour of the dye lasts and left my hair feeling soft and nourished when applying the hair dye. The kit comes with everything you need to dye your hair at home and gives salon results. Overall I would recommend it to friends!"
Pros
- Permanent colour that lasts up to 8 weeks
- Natural origin formula free from ammonia
- Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
Cons
- Some customers said it was a messy application
Best conditioning ginger hair dye
AmazonA conditioner enriched with honey, the L'Oréal Paris Semi-Permanent Hair Dye in 734 Rich Honey Blonde is a fab choice if you're wanting to make the move to ginger. A shade that could almost resemble a strawberry blonde, 734 Rich Honey Blonde adds a subtle ginger tint to your hair without the use of ammonia.
Customer review: "Never coloured my hair before, wanted something that wasn't bad for my hair and won't last forever, this was easy to understand and after doing some research, leaving the semi-permanent dye in for longer won't cause any damage and will most likely make it darker or more vibrant, for me I left it in for 35 minutes and ended up with decent results, if you want it super rich I suggest like 40 mins to 1hr! I haven't noticed any damage to my hair but also haven't noticed any improvements, so my hair has just been the same!"
Pros
- Semi-permanent colour that lasts up to 28 washes
- Enriched with moisturising honey
- Free from ammonia
Cons
- Not as long-lasting colour
Best organic ginger hair dye
AmazonNot only does it come with a nourishing quinoa mask to use after application, but this Naturtint Permanent Hair Dye in 8C Copper Blonde also contains certified organic oils, like olive oleic acid and meadowfoam seed oil, to nourish hair. Made with an overwhelming majority of natural ingredients, it's also vegan-friendly and free from ammonia, parabens and silicones. Win-win.
Customer review: "Used this product for the first time after doing the usual tests for reactions. This product is fabulous. Very gentle on my hair. I have fine fragile hair so have to be extremely careful what I use. The colour took beautifully. All over total coverage."
Pros
- Permanent colour
- Contains natural plant and seed extracts
- Free from ammonia, parabens and silicones
Cons
- May come out a dark red shade for some
Best henna ginger hair dye
AmazonWant to move away from traditional hair dyes and try out henna? The It's Pure Organic Henna Hair Dye in Strawberry Blonde is all organic, vegan-friendly and free from harmful ingredients. These nourishing ingredients won't damage your hair health, tend to be suitable for all skin types (including sensitive skin), and you're left with a fab natural ginger tint on your hair. What's not to love?
Customer review: "I am a natural strawberry blonde, light golden red, but age means that I am greying at the root, otherwise still have my colour. This helps lose the grey and highlights the natural golden-red tones. Also very good for hair health."
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Natural origin formula free from ammonia
- Vegan friendly
Cons
- Some customers were underwhelmed
FAQs
What shade is ginger hair?
Ginger is a shade of red that sits somewhere between blonde and copper. It's sometimes used interchangeably with strawberry blonde. The difference between ginger and copper hair dye is that ginger tends to have more shades of blonde undertones, whereas copper has distinctly orange undertones. Ginger dyes actually tend to have a lot more of a natural result, whereas copper appears much more vibrant.
Does ginger hair dye fade?
Unfortunately, most red hair dyes can take a bit of maintenance. Red hair shades are some of the quickest fading in the hair dye world. But don't fear. There are ways around it, and it doesn't have to cost loads either. Here's how to keep red hair from fading.
How to keep ginger hair dye from fading?
If your hair is in need of a refresh, it doesn't mean you have to dye it every time. You can always use colour-refreshing gloss masks or glaze masks to bring the colour through the hair again. However, to stop ginger hair dye from fading in the first place, there are some things you should look out for that make your colour fade faster.
Switch the shampoo: Try and use products without drying chemicals like sulphates, parabens, silicones and alcohols. Not only are they bad for your hair in general, but any shampoos with harsh chemicals will also strip the colour from your hair. Using shampoo for red hair will help to maintain your colour.
Ditch the heat: Whether it's hot water in the shower or using curlers, hairdryers and straighteners - try to cut back on the heat. The use of heat not only damages your hair, but this head damage will also contribute to fading hair colour. Always use heat protectant spray!
Stay in the shade: In the same sense that artificial heat is bad for your hair, the sun can also fade your colour faster. Try and stick to the shade or wear hats when you're out in the sun. The rays will lighten your hair and can remove pigment and vibrancy.
Samantha' Sam'Price is a Beauty, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at Closer magazine. In 2021, Sam began her journey as a Storytelling Executive at Closer and heatworld on an internship, creating beauty and fashion content across these brands. It was 2022 when Sam was employed as a Commercial Content Writer writing about Family Life on Yours, Mother & Baby and Spirit & Destiny. Now, she specialises in beauty, fashion and wellness content across many brands.